Abstract: A mechanism for automatically returning a tone arm of a toy phonograph from the final to the starting positions of a reproduction. A swingable rod is provided for lifting an intermediate sound transmitting body which usually depresses the tone arm, when the tone arm has been brought to the final position of the reproduction, so as to allow the reproducing needle carried by the tone arm to be disengaged from the recording groove, thereby enabling the tone arm to return. The upward movement of the swingable rod is initiated by an engagement of the rod with a cam contour formed on the drive shaft for the record disc. In order that the swingable rod may correctly ride on the cam contour, so as to be lifted by the latter to make the tone arm free from the depressing force of the intermediate sound transmitting body, there is provided a buffer resilient body adapted to absorb the movement of the swingable rod and the movement of the tone arm which presses the rod toward the cam.

Abstract: A flow passage for a flowable medium is bounded by a wall, and located in e flow passage are one or more devices which suppress the occurrence of such flow conditions in the medium as would tend to cause the development of vibrations in the flowable medium and in the walls surrounding the flow passage.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for handling a flowable product when transferring same from one bulk container, such as a railroad tank car, to a second bulk container of smaller capacity, such as a tank truck. A fitting is removably mounted on a valved product discharge port provided on the one container. The fitting includes an inlet for a compressed fluid. A removable duct section connects the fitting to a valved product inlet port provided on the second container. The interior of the first container is charged to a predetermined pressure by the compressed fluid while the valved discharge port is closed. The product is transferred from the charged one container to the other container through the duct section when the valved ports of both containers are opened.

Abstract: A load type circuit switch of the kind requiring a minimum time delay between the closing thereof and opening thereof is taught. The minimum time delay is utilized to allow a separate circuit clearing apparatus to completely interrupt overload current in the event the switch contacts are closed upon an overload. The time delay is provided by a removable manual spring charging handle which is collapsible or non-operable in one direction of movement. The handle is rectangularly shaped and is inserted in a rectangular opening in a movable hub of a spring charging mechanism. The handle is insertable into the rectangular opening in an orientation which is appropriate to allow charging of the spring for the closing operation. After the closing operation, attempted movement of the handle in the opposite direction will cause collapse thereof thus preventing recharging of the spring for a subsequent circuit breaker contact opening operation.

Abstract: A tangential pick-up device for a gramophone turn-table comprises a pick-up head on a support connected by a floating articulation to a carriage which is driven along a radially-disposed arm by a servo-control device to hold the support in a reference position. The floating articulation of the support, e.g. by flexible suspension wires, is arranged so that shocks or vibrations tend to cause pivoting of the support about two axes disposed radial and perpendicular to a disc and intersecting adjacent the pick-up needle, whereby jumping of the needle is avoided.

Abstract: A multi-core duct is constituted by a plurality of resilient conduits bunched together within a protective sleeve. Each of the conduits is formed from a high-strength synthetic plastics material and the protective sleeve is made of a flame-resistant synthetic plastics material.

Abstract: An apparatus for maintaining a positioning force on movable parts within a guide means, such as a scanning carriage mounted within a hollow body in an incremental measuring system. The positioning apparatus includes a leaf spring for mounting a pressure roller wherein the leaf spring is provided with at least one slot and the roller-mounting end of the leaf spring is forked. The pressure roller is thereby adjustable so that a rolling surface of the pressure roller remains in parallel alignment with a surface of the guide means.

Abstract: An apparatus for isolating a ball-cock assembly locatable within a water closet flush tank from fluids contained within the flush tank has independent sleeve means of a material impervious to the fluid within the flush tank which is associated with a fluid riser of the ball-cock assembly and encloses the riser to provide a fluid-tight barrier between the riser and the fluid within the flush tank and mounting means for securing the sleeve means to the flush tank and providing a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid soap dispensing system includes a closed soap container having a manually actuated dispensing pump carried therebeneath and being mounted on a bracket which has support fingers engageable with a lip on the container bottom for supporting it and a flexible retaining finger engageable with a groove in the top of the container for releasably holding it immovably against the bracket. A bottom wall extends from the bracket beneath the container and cooperates therewith to enclose the dispensing pump and is provided with an aperture to accommodate dispensing of soap therethrough. Refill of the container is by a plastic refill squeeze-bottle with a neck closed by a membrane. The neck is inserted in a wall in the top of the container, and a piercing member at the bottom of the well ruptures the membrane, whereupon soap may be squeezed from the bottle and through apertures in the well bottom, which apertures are too small to permit ready flow of soap therethrough by gravity at ambient pressure.

Abstract: A long-distance heating conduit comprising one or more tubes which carry the heating medium, are laid in the conduit and are surrounded individually or jointly by at least one layer of heat-insulating material and are covered by at least one cover foil which extends in a closed path round the tube or tubes and is provided with holes.

Abstract: An improved internal thread gage comprising an elongated body and having an lineal distance gage mounted at one end thereof. A first arm having a first thread engaging member at one end is longitudinally adjustably secured to the elongated body so that the first end extends laterally outwardly from the body. A piston is longitudinally slidably positioned in a longitudinal bore in the body and is operatively coupled to the gage at one end. A second arm having a second thread engaging member at one end is laterally adjustably secured at its other end to the other end of the piston whereby both the lateral and longitudinal distances between the thread engaging members can be accurately preset.

Abstract: A disconnect switch for use with a metal-encapsulated high-voltage switching installation wherein the switch comprises a movable switching pin and a mating contact axially associated therewith. The switch is further provided with a tube of insulating material arranged in surrounding sliding relationship to the switching pin and with a spring means braced against the pin for applying a force to the tube. Latching means is also provided for latching the tube against the force of the spring means in the on and off positions of the switch. The latter means further cooperates with an unlatching means which, during the course of the movement of the switching pin to close the switch, releases the latching means, thereby causing the tube to bridge the gap between the mating contact and the pin before the latter elements make metallic contact.

Abstract: A lock member projects perpendicularly from the inner surface of the top of a toilet tank cover into the tank and has a bore formed therethrough. A lock rod passes through the bore through the lock member and bores formed through the front walls of the toilet tank in alignment with the bore of the lock member. The lock rod has a threaded part coupled in the bore through the front wall of the tank and a head having keyholes formed therein for accommodating a special key whereby the lock rod is rotatable by the key to insert it through the bores of the tank and lock member and to remove the lock rod from the bores.

Abstract: A metal, convoluted tube with integral, extending end connectors, with the inwardly extending convolutes of the tube exterior filled with and bonded to a non-porous elastomer, and the elastomer extends a substantial distance onto the extending end connectors and outwardly beyond the metal convolutes.

Abstract: A remote-indicating magnetic compass system for use with automobiles or the like. The system consists of a dashboard-mounted readout unit, which receives and decodes logic signals provided thereto from a remotely located electro-optical shaft encoder, the latter being responsive to and positioned by the earth's magnetic field. The form of bearing readout is discrete rather than continuous, e. g. 8 or 16 bearing states are described. The bearing readout display may be defined by a plurality of discrete indicators, such as light-emitting diodes, or segmented alpha indicators or so forth may be employed. The electro-optical shaft encoder assembly is preferably located at a point on the vehicle distant from large bodies of iron or steel, and where the earth's field is strong relative to fields associated with permanently magnetized auto parts.

Abstract: A thermal insulation assembly for use in conjunction with a similar assembly to encircle an elongated body, said assembly comprising a series of abutting similar U shaped elements which have similar radial and axial orientation, said series and orientation being retained by a plurality of elongated rods passing through said elements.

Abstract: A plaster spraying and concrete mixing machine comprised of a frame chassis, a rotatable top loading horizontally axis mounted drum type mixing tank with a center mounted rotatable mixing shaft and mixing paddles therein, and a gravity fed Moineau type progressive cavity pump mounted to the bottom of the mixing tank for pivoting therewith. A primary power source and driving mechanisms provide for turning of an air compressor, the mixing paddles, and the Moineau pump which enable the machine to mix and spray plasters and other cementitious materials. The embodiment of a selectively rotatable mixing tank provides that the machine can also mix and conveniently fully discharge batches of concrete or mortar. The pump is mounted directly to the bottom of the tank with the drive arrangement permitting the pump to pivot with the mixing tank between its mixing and dumping positions.

Abstract: A cam tracker including a master cam with a cam surface thereon engaged by a driven master cam follower contacting the master cam surface and a control cam with a cam surface thereon spaced axially from the master cam and arranged in opposed relation thereto and a control cam follower in rolling contact with the control cam surface with supporting means for the control cam follower including a resiliently biased, slidable support structure mounted on the shaft which supports and drives the master cam follower to resiliently retain the control cam follower in contact with the control cam surface and resiliently bias the master cam follower in the opposite direction in contact with the master cam surface.

Abstract: A hand held gun-type air injection device is provided for rapidly filling an inflatable dunnage bag with entrained ambient air to a predetermined maximum stabilized pressure level. The injection device is adapted for use specifically with a dunnage bag having a housing defining a chamber extending from an opening on the exterior of the bag to an opening in the interior of the bag. A tube assembly is provided for supplying pressurized gas or air adjacent the housing on the dunnage bag. A ring-like alignment frame is provided on one end of the tube for locating the tubing relative to the housing and in alignment with the chamber in the housing. The alignment frame is substantially open or apertured to permit free flow of ambient air past exterior portions of the tube into the chamber. One or more orifices are located on a portion of the tube to allow discharge of jets of high pressure gas or air therethrough.

Abstract: A locking device for use with a toilet provided with a seat and cover or lid assembly. The device provides the locking of the cover to the toilet bowl so as to prevent access to the interior of the bowl by small children or persons lacking knowledge of its operation or suitable dexterity. A flat locking strap of suitable length is secured at one end to the top of the toilet seat cover. The strap is provided with a tapered section near its free end which terminates in a grippable handle. A lock cylinder is attached to the toilet bowl exterior in position to receive the tapered section of the locking strap. The lock cylinder has a longitudinal slot and internal bore sized to permit only an edgewise insertion or removal of the tapered section of the locking strap. When the toilet cover is lowered and the locking strap inserted and turned flat within the lock cylinder further movement of the locking strap is prevented, thus locking the toilet seat cover closed.